Apple is seeking an injunction against Samsung while its patent suit is being decided

Attorneys for Apple and Samsung Electronics gave arguments before a U.S. federal judge on Thursday in a patent infringement suit over Samsung's Galaxy tablets, and the judge is now set to issue a written order on Apple's request to have sales of those tablets blocked.

Apple asked Judge Lucy Koh of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, in San Jose, to issue a preliminary injunction that would keep Samsung from selling the tablets while the case is being heard. She did not issue a final ruling on that request on Thursday.

Judge Koh concluded the hearing by saying she would rule promptly on Apple's motion, without indicating when that ruling might take place, Samsung spokesman Kim Titus said.

"Samsung still believes that the motions against us are groundless, and we will continue to provide products ... to the American consumers," Titus said. "We will continue to protect our intellectual property rights," he added.

Apple sued Samsung in April, citing a long list of instances in which the company allegedly copied Apple's hardware design, user interface and even packaging for its Google Android-based tablets. Among the tools Apple is seeking to use against Samsung are bans on importation of the devices.

Apple won an injunction in Australia on Thursday that blocked the sale of Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1 while the company's suit against Samsung proceeds. It has also won a Galaxy Tab 10.1 ban in Germany, and in August a court in the Netherlands forced Samsung to prepare a software update to stop infringement of one patent. Samsung has retaliated with several suits against Apple in Europe.